Category:Smoker's Paradise, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Claude C Himelright was born in Boyertown pa on 25 December 1884. On 25 January 1909, in partnership with Ray Seislove, he opened the "Smokers' Paradise", a cigar and tobacco establishment at 732 Hamilton Street. On 11 October 1914, the partnershp was dissolved and Mr Himelright continued as sole proprietor. Following this change, extensive equipment of pool tables operated in conjunction with the buisness. Many wold chapionship pool and billiard competitions were played in the pool hall.

In September 1948, "Smokers' Paradise" was closed and the business was moved to the corner of North Sixth and Hamilton Street, where "Claude's Tobacco Shop" operated in the terrace level of the new Kramer building, although Himelright had little to do with the operation of the business. Claude's was where you could buy fine and imported tobacco products, and also sold magazines and various out of town newspapers. Claude's was the only retail merchant in the city where you could buy Billboard and Rolling Stone in the 1960s and 1970s along with various adult magazines such as Penthouse and Playboy.

Himelright himself moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida after Smokers' Paradise closed and entered the real estate business. He was also active in the Optimist Club and Little League baseball. He passed in January 1967 at the age of 8s.

In 1980 the new Kramer Building was purchased by James Mussleman, owner of Mussleman Advertising and a local artist and art teacher. Claude's was closed and the building was renovated, becoming the James Mussleman Art Development Center which it remains today.